Television Tuesday: Ironside and The Michael J. Fox Show

I had only heard about the original TV version of Ironside starring Raymond Burr from the 1960s and ’70s. NBC debuted a modern-day remake on Wednesday, October 2, 2013.

It stars Blair Underwood as Robert Ironside, a NY Chief of Detectives who is in a wheelchair after being shot in the line of duty. But don’t underestimate him. Ironside can still coach a hockey team, have an active love life, and hold his own against criminal suspects.

I thoroughly enjoyed the show’s premiere episode and not just because Underwood is still smokin’ hot at 49 years young. My sentiment was not shared by many however. The show had the lowest-rated fall drama debut on NBC ever. Some critics say it’s because there are too many cop shows on TV currently and this one needs an original storyline to stand out. I beg your pardon! What other cop show currently airing has the aforementioned elements? None. I’ll still be tuning in this week. And I hope you will too.The cast is rounded out by Spencer Grammer(Greek, As the World Turns) as Holly. Kelsey Grammer’s daughter portrays the only female detective on Ironside’s team. Pablo Schreiber (The Wire, Orange is the New Black) is Virgil, another detective on the team. I recently saw Schreiber in HBO‘s Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight. A fascinating, legal docudrama that you should check out.

Ironside airs Wednesdays at 10/9 CST on NBC.

To catch missed episodes of Ironside, download the NBC app or view them on www.NBC.com.

Emmy and Golden Globe Award Winner Michael J. Fox is starring in his own show again!On the same network that made him a star–NBC. I have been a fan of Fox since Family Ties. His young, preppy Republican Alex P.Keaton is a classic TV character. Fox went on to have great film success with the Back to the Future franchise, The Secret of My Success, Teen Wolf, Casualties of War and Bright Lights, Big City. You know how I love my ’80s movies! This isn’t Fox’s first return to television.He’s had a few. He scored big withSpin City in 1996. Not long after announcing he had Parkinson’s Disease, Fox left the show in 2000 to spend more time with his family. Several years later he began doing guest arcs on quite a number of TV shows. Some in which he incorporated Parkinson’s into his roles. My favorite has been his turn on The Good Wife on CBS.

On The Michael J. Fox Show he portrays Mike Henry, a NY newscaster with Parkinson’s Disease, who left his job to spend time with his family. Can you say “deja vu”? Betsy Brandt (Marie Schrader of Breaking Bad fame) is his wife, Annie. His old boss Harris is played by Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme). Annie and Harris try to get Mike back to work for their own personal reasons. The show premiered on Thursday, September 26, 2013 with two back-to-back episodes. Fox’s real-life wife, actress Tracy Pollan, has a great cameo in the second episode. Be sure to check out the laughs in this new show. The amazing thing about Fox is he still has that incomparable skill of comedic timing that made him famous as Alex P. Keaton.

The Michael J. Fox Show airs Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 CST on NBC.

To catch missed episodes of The Michael J. Fox Show, download the NBC app or view them on www.NBC.com.To learn more about The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, click here.Have you watched or will you watch Ironside? Have you ever seen the original?Have you watched or will you watch The Michael J. Fox Show?Were you a Family Ties fan? L.A. Law?

Alison, I have seen some crazy stuff from the critics (professional and amateur) about Ironside too. Some folks are outraged that a black man is doing the remake instead of a white one like original. Others are saying he's too comfortable in the wheelchair. Lawd have mercy! Can't we all just get along?! LOL
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I hadn't actually heard of the new Ironside series until Blair Underwood made a guest appearance on Kelly and Michael last week. I think NBC has done a really poor job of promoting it, especially compared to all the work they have been doing to promote their other new shows, and that's what caused the low ratings. The segment that I saw looked good, so I may check it out. On the other hand, the Michael J Fox Show has been programmed in my DVR for weeks now! I've been a fan of Michael's since I was a little girl, so I was thrilled to see him star in his own show again. I really am enjoying the show so far, and I loved the episode featuring Tracy! It's just a fun show that further illustrates the kind of person Michael J Fox really is- a fun-loving family man who, even in the midst of his disease, doesn't take himself too seriously.
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Some people are weirded out about MJF bringing his real life into his reel life. Why not? He's obviously having a ball. Super talented! I say if people can't handle it, they shouldn't watch it. Thanks, Mandi.
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I used to see the old Ironside series with Raymond Burr, so when I saw that Blair was going to be in it, I said I might check it out. The purists from back in the day are so critical of it it's not funny! I still want to see it! It might be my only show (until Haves and Have Nots comes back on).
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I did watch Ironside. Can you believe it? I sat down Saturday night to see what my husband had on Tivo and decided to watch it. I took my laptop to the sofa like I was going to multi-task and then didn't even open it. It was good. I was a Family Ties fan but MJ was not my favorite character on the show. I started liking him when he did the Back to the Future movies and Doc Hollywood. I'm glad he's back. I'll go online to check out the episode where Tracey makes a cameo.
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